North Carolina House Approves $1.9 Billion Education Bond

Raleigh, N.C. – The state House of Representatives passed a $1.9 billion school construction bond proposal on Thursday by a vote of 99-6, granting the chamber’s final approval to the education capital investment plan that could be considered by voters next March.

House Bill 241 Education Bond Act of 2019 is designed to help counties with the greatest need by weighting the low-wealth status of school systems in its allocation formula, not requiring local matching money for low-wealth funds, and guaranteeing a minimum of $10 million for every county.

H.B. 241 was approved by state House committees on K-12 education, finance, and capital appropriations, as well as the House Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

The bill would provide $1.5 billion in capital funding to K-12 schools and $200 million each to the University of North Carolina system and the North Carolina Community College System. It passed the full North Carolina House of Representatives by a wide margin on consecutive days of recorded votes.

It is co-sponsored by more than 50 members of the state House of Representatives.

Rep. Linda Johnson (R-Cabarrus) thanked her colleagues for their overwhelming support of the legislation, which would propose the state’s first K-12 school construction bond in two decades to voters in March 2020.

“Thank you for your support,” Johnson said. “Our schools appreciate it and our children appreciate it.”

Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said education is the most valuable asset for families and businesses in North Carolina.

“Our state’s explosive economic growth continues to bring opportunities and challenges that we will meet together with more bold investments for our children’s future.”